Do Or Don't: Piercing A Baby's Ears

Seeing an infant rocking a pair of sparkly stud earrings wigs me out a bit. You?

I've heard the reasoning behind piercing babies' ears, which primarily seems to be that if you know they're going to get pierced eventually anyway, you might as well do it while they're so young they hardly notice the pain. It's also a long-running cultural or family tradition in some instances, so it seems harmless and normal.

Personally, I'd be worried the holes would get infected or irritated (mine have always been prone), or that my baby would tug one out and end up swallowing it. But I'm not a mom yet, so perhaps I'm just paranoid.

Also, if you get pierced as an infant, you never get to experience the thrill of finally getting permission to get earrings. I remember having butterflies in my stomach as my mom drove me to the Maine Mall at age 10-ish to get my ears pierced at Claire's; choosing the color of the rhinestone studs I'd be wearing for months was the most overwhelming decision of my life so far. Of course, I now can't recall which I chose--but I remember how proud I was showing them off at school. It felt like everyone in the world was admiring my ears. I want my own daughter to experience that rite of passage, I think.

Another factor: Isn't it better to wait until your daughter is old enough to decide whether she even wants pierced ears?

Let's discuss: What are your thoughts on piercing baby girls' ears? How old were you when you got your ears pierced? When will you/did you pierce your daughter's, and why?